Blog

In collaboration with Impact Media Partners, AAI hosted a screening of “1948: Creation and Catastrophe,” a film about the Nakba and the toll Israel’s creation took on Palestinian society. More than 60 people attended the screening at the Hill Center near Capitol Hill. The film’s co-directors Andy Trimlett and Ahlam...

By Ibrahim Diallo and Haley Arata On Tuesday, November 27, the Arab American Institute (AAI) was invited to participate in a panel discussion at Common Cause'sBlueprint for a Great Democracy Conference. The topic, Preparing Election Administration and Election Protection for 2020, was also addressed by speakers from Common Cause, Vote@Home,...

The Arab American Institute is accepting applications for our Spring 2019 Internship Program. As we approach a new year, a new Congress, and the 2020 elections, AAI has plenty of exciting and important work ahead. If you are looking for hands-on experience in civil rights advocacy, public policy, and civic...

On November 13, 2018, the Federal Bureau of Investigation released its annual report for 2017 based on data collected under the Hate Crime Statistics Act. Here at the Arab American Institute, we have identified improving the data collected in the FBI's annual report as a top-line priority for 2019. For more...

After all the votes were tallied, the November 6th midterm election ushered in a new group of leaders to serve at all levels of government. Many of these leaders—some reelected, some in different positions, and others who are newly elected—are Arab Americans, and their successful elections mean greater representation in local...

During this election season, much attention fell on campaign bigotry and political and hate-inspired violence across the country. But after (most) votes were counted last week, the country began to celebrate the historic winners, which included a long list of inspiring Arab Americans. But more than the names on the...

WASHINGTON, DC – The Arab American Institute expressed concern and disappointment with the release of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) 2017 hate crime statistics. As expected, hate crime surged yet again in 2017. However, the data contained some glaring omissions, including three of the most severe acts of bias-motivated violence...

Jeff Sessions is out at the Department of Justice. But no matter his replacement, they will likely adopt the same tepid response to the danger of hate crime. That is in part because under President Trump, hate crime is a partisan issue. Hate crime has surged under this administration, and...

President Trump promulgated a new Presidential Proclamation today on amnesty along the southern border, which followed a new interim final rule from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) on the same topic. Taken together, the policies prohibit migrants from seeking asylum unless they happen...

This year, 25 Arab Americans ran for seats in the US Senate or US Congress, or as Gubernatorial candidates. Of those, 12 were on November 6th ballots, and nine were elected by their respective constituencies. A heightened level of enthusiasm surrounded the elections of Ilhan Omar, MN-5, and Rashida Tlaib,...